Style notes for November 1 to 7

There are big debuts and there are BIG debut. This Saturday (November 3), the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park, 416-586-8000, rom.on.ca) launches its newest costume and textile exhibition BIG, which examines many fashionable forms of over-the-top scale. Highlights include a dramatic Dior coat dress (pictured) and a pre-Columbian feather cape from Peru plus pieces by Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent. The show runs until the fall of 2013.

Take a seat

The Textile Museum of Canada's annual fundraiser reDesign takes place next Wednesday (November 7) between 6:30 pm and 9 pm at Hazelton Lanes (87 Avenue). Designers including Comrags, Fugitive Glue and MADE were each given an imitation Eames chairs from Morba to reimagine and auction off. Tickets are $100 through the museum (416-599-5321).

Holts on the cheaper

While word that Holt Renfrew will be launching a new, lower priced store concept called HR2 sent shoppers into a tizzy, their hopes that it would be a Winners-style clearance centre for discounted, older season designer merch were quickly dashed. A Women's Wear Daily story about the launch reported that "hr2 will not carry any of the same merchandise sold at Holt Renfrew stores, though the new retail division will be stocked with lower-priced or secondary labels from many of the same designers and brands that supply Holt Renfrew with their top-priced lines."

It went on to compare the set up to Barney's Co-op division which focuses on contemporary, mid-priced merch. Stores in Quebec and Ontario are set to start opening in early 2013. And for you bummed out bargain hunters, there's always Holts' Last Call outlet (Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills, 905-886-7444).

Sweet deal

All through November, select vintage frames and fine eyewear are up to 50 per cent off at Opticianado (2919 Dundas West, 416-604-2020, opticianado.com).